# NTSB MIA95LA109: Cessna 172H, N3835R, Hattiesburg, MS, April 16, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1995, 23:30 local (Apr 16, 1995, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Hattiesburg, MS
- Location: 31.3271° N, 89.2903° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hattiesburg, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3271&lon=-89.2903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37753/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA109

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE INITIATED AN EN ROUTE DESCENT FROM 4,500 FEET AGL, TURNED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON AND THEN TURNED IT BACK OFF. HE CONTINUED HIS DESCENT TO 2,000 FEET AGL, REDUCED POWER, TURNED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON, AND THE ENGINE QUIT. AN ENGINE RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SEWAGE TREATMENT DIKE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. REVIEW OF THE PROBABILITY CARBURETOR ICING CHART REVEALED THE ENGINE COULD ENCOUNTER SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER BASED ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On April 15, 1995, about 2330 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N3835R, registered to Vickie C. Hall, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed in the vicinity of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Lafayette Municipal Airport, Lafayette, Tennessee, about 4 hours 15 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he initiated an en route descent from 4,500 feet agl, turned the carburetor heat on and then turned it back off. He continued his descent to 2,000 feet agl, reduced power, turned the carburetor heat on, and the engine quit. An engine restart was attempted with negative results, and the airplane collided with a sewage treatment dike during the forced landing.

Review of the probability carburetor icing chart revealed that the engine could encounter serious icing at glide power based on the weather observation at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3835R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3835R-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 17255335, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17255335
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hall, Terry G.
- Registered owner: Hall, Vickie C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1994, 165 hours before
- Departed: 3M7, LAFAYETTE, TN
- Destination: OLA4, RESERVE, LA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 172 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIB, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950415008089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950415008089A), Apr 15, 1995: Cessna 172H, Hattiesburg, MS, Substantial damage. Lost power during descent. Engine quit on level off. Failed to keep carb heat on during descent. Carb icing area.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.